Cat Aggression: Understanding Why Felines Have The Attitude

Jordan Walker thinks that pet cats are great for people who are equally independent. He has always enjoyed being in the company of pets and is now sharing tips to other pet parents at Coops And Cages and in blogs such as this one. He will be giving you information on cat aggression with this article.

Fangs out and the snakelike hiss. Pet cats that display such behaviors are look anything but a friendly animal companion. Approaching it is like choosing to share one’s bedroom with a drunk stranger. You don’t know if you will be walking out of the room safe or torn into pieces. Has your pet been showing some signs of cat aggression lately? How are you dealing with it? Did it help when you left it alone? Or is it getting worse with every single day?

Why Cat Aggression Happens

If you want to help your cat overcome this behavioral problem, you need to understand why it’s happening in the first place. Here are some of the possible reasons:

1. It’s afraid. They are just cats and not invincible superheroes. They also feel afraid just like you do. When you are cornered by some robber in a dark alley, would you still feel safe? This is how cats feel when they visit the vet’s clinic, when being confronted by a bigger cat, or when cornered by a person they just met. It’s their way of saying that you need to keep your distance and leave them alone.

2. It’s reacting to something it can’t see. Something might have caught its very sensitive sense of hearing and is sensing some potential danger next door. This type of aggression is also called redirected aggression. Your pet cat is being stimulated by something that this has no direct access to.

3. It doesn’t like to be touched. Petting a cat is one of the ways that pet owners show their affection to feline pets. However, there are moments that they don’t feel like being petted. If this shows any signs of anger while being petted on its head or body, it only means that it doesn’t want to be touched at the moment.

4. Other cats may smell different. Pet cats are like dogs. They also mark their territories and they are able to do this with their powerful sense of smell. Their territory is not open to cat strangers. Did you take the other pet cat with you at the vet’s clinic and when this came back, the other pet cat was acting overstimulated than usual? The other cat must have caught up another scent, making it smell like a totally different cat. The other pet was not able to recognize this right away.

5. As a motherly instinct. Humans are not the only ones who can genuinely care for their babies. Cat moms are like that too. They see their kittens as vulnerable, needing her protection. Call it their own way of being a real mommy to their kids. Even your own pet may find the need to protect her litter of kittens from you and the other members of the family, ready to launch into its aggressive cat mode if you come too close for comfort.

6. It’s playing. It may not be about you or the other pets inside the house. Maybe they are just feeling a bit bored and need to burn their excess energy. Cats could try catching your feet with their paws. With other cats, you could see them being a little bit too rough, just a common predatory play.

7. For unknown reasons. There are some cats that simply attack their owners for unknown reasons although this is not considered a common occurrence. Why they do it can’t be explained by their medical records and behavioral history.

What to Do About It

The way to deal with an aggressive cat will depend upon its cause. Here are some solutions that could prevent this from happening again:

1. Use treats. If your pet does not want to be petted, then maybe you are coming in too strong before it became fully comfortable with you. Instead of initiating the action first, sit at the couch and allow your pet to come to you if it feels like it. Try touching its head lightly with small strokes at first. If it shows any sign of discomfort, stop. Repeat this procedure until it allows you to pet it longer. You can also speed up its process of warming up to you by offering it some tasty treats.

2. Divert its attention. If your cat is hissing at an invisible enemy, clap your hands loudly. This will jolt it back to its sanity, preventing from further fixation. As for the catthat is trying to boss around the other cat, quench its anger with water. Put some in a spray bottle and squirt it on your pet cat.

3. Stay away. You can easily spot when an aggressive cat will in no way be morphing into an amazing pet regardless of how you choose to deal with it. If your cat is too worked up with emotional turmoil, the best way to deal with it is stay away and let it cool its temper on its own.

4. Give interactive toys. Cats that don’t have any other pals to play with will designate you as their official best play buddy. If you don’t like being bugged with their aggressive playful tactics, what you can do is offer the use of interactive toys. Simple toys also work great for some too such as a ball or fish pole type of toy.

When Nothing Works

If the suggestions above do not work, then it’s time that you get professional help. Your pet cat may be suffering from a certain health condition that you do not know of. Furthermore, diet has been linked to aggressive behavior in cats, another reason to visit the vet and get a checkup. If you find that it’s in a great shape, then consider hiring a professional trainer. Cat aggression is a serious condition that could hurt you and a professional trainer might be able to help you modify its behavior.

Conclusion

Cat aggression could be or could not be cured overnight depending on its cause. The best way to prevent yourself from getting hurt if by staying away. If the problem persists, seek professional help right away to prevent you, your other pets, and possibly the cat with the aggression problem from getting hurt.

Jordan is the lead content curator for Coops And Cages as well as a couple of other pet related blogs. His passion for animals is only matched by his love for ‘attempting’ to play the guitar. If you would like to catch him, you can via Google+ or Twitter: @CoopsAndCages

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"Service was quick and prompt. I ordered a fish tag for my cat so that when he goes outdoors anyone can clearly see his name, phone number and registration details. Great product. I was extreemly happy with the quality."

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"Very happy with the overall product and the delivery speed was faster than estimated."